Pallone Secures $10 Million for South Amboy and New Brunswick Transportation Projects

April 2, 2004

Press Release

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today secured $10 million in federal funds to complete improvements to the rail, bus passenger, and parking facilities at the South Amboy Intermodal Transportation Station and for the construction of a parking garage at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick.

The funds were included in the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users ("TEA-LU"), a $275 billion six-year transportation reauthorization bill that was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives today. The Senate approved the legislation in February and the two chambers will go to conference to reconcile the differences. The funds would be made available to South Amboy and New Brunswick over six years.

Pallone secured $8 in federal funds for the South Amboy Intermodal Transportation Station to improve access, increase safety and enhance passenger accommodations at the facility. The funds complete the second of two project phases that calls for the construction of an elevated platform, the addition of handicapped accessibility, and the facilitation of overall safety upgrades to the station. When completed, the facility will link several major regional routes and modes of transportation at one central point of transfer within South Amboy. As New Jerseys only combined rail, bus, ferry, auto and pedestrian intermodal transportation center, South Amboy serves as a national model.

"As the most densely populated state in the nation, we depend on transportation hubs like the South Amboy station to help relieve congestion and encourage the use of mass transit," the New Jersey Congressman said. "When completed, area residents will have the convenience of having the only combined rail, bus, ferry, auto and pedestrian transportation center in the state right in their own back yard. South Amboy will serve as a national model for integrated transportation hubs."

Pallone also secured $2 million in federal funds for the construction of a parking garage at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick. The 521-space parking garage will ease congestion and improve patient access to the hospital's comprehensive cancer center, as well as the Cardio-Vascular Institute and the UMDNJ-RWJ Medical School.

"This facility will make it easier and more appealing for people to come into New

Brunswick for doctor visits and access the hospital, without having to worry about where to park," Pallone said. "The facility will encourage further economic development in New Brunswick and aid in New Brunswick's revitalization."